SEATTLE – Sophomore Matt Scott tossed seven innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine, to guide Stanford (7-6, 1-0 Pac-12) to a 3-2 victory over Washington (3-6-1, 0-1 Pac-12) in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.
Scott retired 10 straight batters from the first inning through two outs in the fourth, including a string of five consecutive strikeouts that began with the first out in the second. The native of Redding, Conn. improved to 2-2 on the season and got through the seven frames on 99 pitches.
Scoreless headed into the third inning, Stanford got on the board first as Ethan Hott singled, stole second and came in to score on a two-out RBI-single from Cort MacDonald.
Hott finished the game 3-for-3 with a walk and a double while hitting out of the eighth spot in the order.
Including the RBI-single, MacDonald compiled two hits while swiping his fifth bag of the year – helping lead Stanford to three stolen bases in the game.
The Cardinal extended its lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning, putting the first two aboard on a single from Jimmy Nati and a walk to Brady Reynolds. Trevor Haskins put down the sacrifice bunt, setting the table for Luke Lavin. The freshman designated hitter lined a ball down the line in right field that was dropped, allowing both Nati and Reynolds to score.
The only blemish on Scott's line came on a solo home run from Aiva Arquette in the bottom of the sixth, cutting Stanford's advantage to 3-1 after six.
After Scott handed the ball over to Kassius Thomas and the Cardinal bullpen to start the eighth, Washington managed to string together a two-out rally to claw within a run. Cam Clayton singled back up the middle to get the ball rolling before a hit by-pitch put two aboard. After getting ahead 2-1 in the count, Jeter Ybarra punched an RBI-single into center field to plate the run.
Clinging to the one-run advantage, Stanford summoned sophomore Toran O'Harran to end the eighth-inning rally. The right-hander walked a batter to load the bases, but struck out Carson Ohland looking to strand all three runners.
O'Harran would remain in the game to pitch the ninth, surrendering a one-out single before getting the final two outs on four pitches to convert his third save.
Stanford and Washington will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
- Stanford has won six of its last seven games after starting the season 1-5.
- The Cardinal allowed the first run in seven of its first eight games of the season, but has now scored first in four of the last five.
- Stanford improves to 2-0 in one-run games this season.
- Hott (3-for-3, 2B, R) recorded the first multi-hit game of his career.
- MacDonald (2-for-5, RBI) posted his fourth multi-hit game of the season … has now hit safely in all but one of his games played this season.
- Nati (1-for-5, R) has hit safely in all but one game this season, and has reached in all 13.
- Scott entered the game ranked ninth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings and now averages 14.91 strikeouts per game … has now struck out nine or more batters in three of his four starts this year.